Where the Magic Begins and Nannies Collide **~Update 10/11~** COMPLETE

[disneyshakeygirl]

Welcome to this happy place (better known as my pre trip report), where the magic begins and nannies will collide! I'm Laura and this is my very first (pre) trip report. This will be my 9th time to Walt Disney World.

Disney is a huge love of mine. I've been a Disney fan since I was tiny, but didn't really get fully into it until 2004, just after my dad died. My mum and I did a quick trip before school started, as we both needed some time, and it was then that my love for Disney blossomed. Basically, everything about Disney really interests me. My family knows this and just deals with it (and for that, I love them).

Let's just get down to business, but first - some notes.

Note 1: Per request, some names in the report will be changed. Most of them will be the real thing, but I have had to change some.
Note 2: I have a tendency to quote things. It's a habit. There will be lines from Pitch Perfect, Harry Potter, Disney and so much more.​

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

The Cast.
**
Updates:
Real Life Update
Dining Part 1
Dining Part 2
Disney Update
Final Dining and Fast Pass Update
Final Update

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Now to the fun bit.

What: 14 day trip to Walt Disney World!
When: September 13 - 27, 2014
Where: POFQ, Walt Disney World, Orlando.
Why: Just because! Who doesn't need a trip to WDW?

Cast (ie: The Who):

Name: Laura (me)
AKA: I'm a (fully trained) nanny for two wonderful children, both of whom I adore to bits. They'll be referred to bubbles 1 and 2. I couldn't ask for a better job. It was because of my love of working with kids, as well of Mary Poppins that I decided to go to college to become a nanny.
Favourite Disney:
Songs: All Beauty and the Beast songs, I'll Make a Man Out of You, Part of That World, Let It Go.
Movies: Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Mulan, Pirates of the Caribbean.
Characters: Cogsworth, Mary Poppins, Bert, Barbossa, Penguins.
Villains: Gaston, Scar.
Princess: Belle, Mulan, Merida.
Park: Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Rides: Pirates of the Caribbean, BTMRR, Haunted Mansion, Soarin', Test Track.
Restaurant/Counter Service: Coral Reef, Rose and Crown Pub, Tony's Town Square.
**

 

[sue_88]

Hi Laura!

I love having a trip to plan and look forward to. And you are going for 2 weeks?! That would be amazing.
I have a trip coming right up and I am excited. But I only get to go about every other year.
I do solo for a few days and then am joined by my sister, niece, and niece's babies who all live in Florida.
I see you like Tony's Townsquare. I have never even been in there. I think I need to check it out!
Have you seen the new glow with the show ear hats? I am thinking of buying my first ear hat now that I have seen those.

Well, happy planning!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Hi Laura!

I love having a trip to plan and look forward to. And you are going for 2 weeks?! That would be amazing.
I have a trip coming right up and I am excited. But I only get to go about every other year.
I do solo for a few days and then am joined by my sister, niece, and niece's babies who all live in Florida.
I see you like Tony's Townsquare. I have never even been in there. I think I need to check it out!
Have you seen the new glow with the show ear hats? I am thinking of buying my first ear hat now that I have seen those.

Well, happy planning!

I am going for two weeks! I love planning too! When do you leave for your trip?

Your trips sound ideal - I love solo trips, followed by people joining me! It sounds like fun, having your sister, niece and niece's babies all together and with you.

I LOVE Tony's Townsquare. I know it gets a lot of hate, but I absolutely adore it. The ambience, food, service have all been great for me every single time I've been.

I have seen the new glow with the show ear hats and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to get one for myself.

 

[wiigirl]

Following along!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Following along!

Welcome! I've got an update coming soon. I've had to postpone my trip, but hopefully until September

 

[sue_88]

I am going for two weeks! I love planning too! When do you leave for your trip?

Your trips sound ideal - I love solo trips, followed by people joining me! It sounds like fun, having your sister, niece and niece's babies all together and with you.

I LOVE Tony's Townsquare. I know it gets a lot of hate, but I absolutely adore it. The ambience, food, service have all been great for me every single time I've been.

I have seen the new glow with the show ear hats and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to get one for myself.

I leave for Florida on November 9. It is getting so close that I have trouble concentrating at work! I am usually looking at the calendar and imagining what I will be doing in a few weeks!
I'm sorry if you must postpone your trip. I hope it all works out for you to still get to go.

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

I leave for Florida on November 9. It is getting so close that I have trouble concentrating at work! I am usually looking at the calendar and imagining what I will be doing in a few weeks!
I'm sorry if you must postpone your trip. I hope it all works out for you to still get to go.

Not much longer until you leave, you must be super stoked. I can totally sympathize about having trouble concentrating - I always have the same problem!

Thank you, I have had to postpone my trip, however, I got to rebook it last night! I'm going September 13 through the 27 now!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Real Life Update!​

A very delayed update! My trip has been rescheduled. Let's back track and find out why.

As of the last update, we were originally scheduled to go during the last two weeks of May, 2014. The trip was booked, flights were booked. My job fell through and I was let go. Because of this, I had to cancel the trip in May. I was heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken.

However, things have a funny way of working out. I went back to work for the family that I've been nannying for for the past 3.5 years. Meanwhile, I interviewed on a Saturday and was offered the job less than 24 hours later. This job starts in February 2014 and is ideal for me.

I put in a request about a week after I was hired, for two weeks off in September. It took about a day and lo and behold, my holiday period was GRANTED! I am so, so excited.

So that means, I'M GOING TO WALT DISNEY WORLD! September 13 through the 27, 2014 are our new dates. This means there's also been a change of cast members. My mother is no longer able to go, due to other travel commitments. However, there is someone else I will be travelling with!

Zeldabel is a good friend of mine. We lost contact to due to unfortunate circumstances. We reconnected this past year and have spent a long time talking things out. She is also a HUGE Disney and WDW fan. She mentioned that she had booked a trip next September and was hoping I could go too. At the time, it depended on my job situation. Luckily for the both of us, I got my holiday period approved. She will be at WDW during the first week I am there, then I'll be solo tripping the second week.

She sometimes visits here, so you'll never know when she'll stop by.

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

A long time and no update! Here are our tentative dining plans, as of our most recent conversations, for the week that Zeldabel and I are vacationing together.

Sept 13 (Arrival Day):
Lunch: We're on our own for that. Probably a CS for me.
Dinner: 1900 Park Fare.

Sept 14:
Breakfast: Kona
Lunch: Tony's
Dinner: Be Our Guest

Sept 15:
Breakfast: Akershus
Lunch: Rose & Crown
Dinner: Beaches & Cream

Sept 16:
Breakfast: Tusker House
Lunch: Yak & Yeti
Dinner: 50s Prime Time

Sept 17:
Breakfast: 1900 Park Fare
Lunch: Chef de France
Dinner: Coral Reef

Sept 18:
Breakfast: Roaring Forks
Lunch: The Plaza
Dinner: Crystal Palace
**

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Zeldabel leaves on the 19th, leaving me on my own!

Here are the current dining plans for my solo trip. Things will probably change as reservations come closer, but this it where it stands.

Sept 19:
Breakfast: Grand Floridian Cafe
Lunch: Be Our Guest or CS
Dinner: The Wave

Sept 20:
Breakfast: CS
Lunch: CS
Dinner: CS

Sept 21:
Breakfast: Tusker House
Lunch: CS
Dinner: Garden Grill

Sept 22:
Breakfast: CS
Lunch: CS or Olivia's Cafe
Dinner: Hollywood & Vine or Mama Melroses

Sept 23:
Breakfast: Olivia's Cafe
Lunch: CS
Dinner: CS or The Plaza

Sept 24:
Breakfast: CS
Lunch: T-Rex or Portobello
Dinner: Raglan Road or House of Blues

Sept 25:
Breakfast: CS
Lunch: Tony's or CS
Dinner: CS

Sept 26:
Breakfast: Cinderella's Castle or Crystal Palace
Lunch: CS
Dinner: CS

Sept 27 (Departure Day :'():
Breakfast: CS

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

An update! Where to begin?

Zeldabel is no longer coming on the trip. Due to health reasons, she is now going in May (for SWW), and I'll be solo tripping for the majority of the September trip. For the last few days of the September trip, my mum will be joining me. Dining plans will be changed around etc. I'm disappointed that Zeldabel can no longer come, but health comes first.

I've been lucky and have been receiving PIN codes every few weeks. Fingers crossed.

There was a brief panic earlier this week in that I wasn't sure if I'd be going. I was driving the bubbles home and a man ran a red light and struck me. My car is totalled. The bubbles are fine and thought it was downright hilarious. I've got a few scratches (which are healing nicely), a small thumb injury, post crash whiplash and internal bruising. I am fine otherwise, just very sore. The firemen said if the man had been an inch or two closer, I would've been paralyzed or dead.

I am just very, very lucky. After much budgeting, calculating and more, I can finance a new car and still go to Disney! Hurrah!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Long time, no update!

Since the last update, I've started a new job, starting with a new family. I picked up where the last nanny left off with this new family. It was a little tough to begin (For me, as I'd been with the previous family for 4 years, and they were the first family I'd ever nannied for), but things are going well.

Since I last updated, Diswise, both Zeldabel and my mum are no longer able to go with me, due to a variety of different reasons. So, I'll be solo most of the time, while meeting up with friends who live in Orlando the rest of the time.

Dining Plans (as of 8/19). I highly doubt they'll change now.
Be Our Guest - Dinner - Sept 13
Kona - Breakfast - Sept 15
Plaza Restaurant - Lunch - Sept 15
The Wave - Breakfast - Sept 16
Rose & Crown Pub - Dinner - Sept 17
Raglan Road - Dinner - Sept 18
Whispering Canyon Cafe - Breakfast - Sept 22
Beaches and Cream - Lunch - Sept 23
Tony's Town Square - Lunch - Sept 25

Fast Pass Plans (as of 8/19). I have particular favourites, which are pretty obvious. Ones with stars reflect ones that I've never been on.
Sept 13
Buzz Lightyear
Journey of the Little Mermaid *
Seven Dwarves Mine Train *

Sept 14
Toy Story Midway Mania
Star Tours * (Not since the update)
Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular

Sept 15
Meet Anna and Elsa *
Journey of the Little Mermaid
Mine Train

Sept 17
Maelstrom
Soarin'
Spaceship Earth

Sept 19
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Primeval Whirl *
Dinosaur

Sept 24
Soarin'
Meet Disney Friends
Spaceship Earth

 

[KatMark]

Laura, it was so nice meeting you last week at Disney. Thank you for stopping me to say hello.

Please let me know if you are going to do a TR as I would love to follow along.

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Laura, it was so nice meeting you last week at Disney. Thank you for stopping me to say hello.

Please let me know if you are going to do a TR as I would love to follow along.

Likewise! I'm still thankful that you stopped, very graciously, and talked to me!

 

[disneyshakeygirl]

Well, my trip has been and gone! It was amazing. So amazing, that I booked to go back next year during my trip.

HERE is the link to my trip report! I hope you'll hop over and join me there!